Fourths



No. 749,845. PATENTED JAN. 19, 1904.

J. GOOMBER.

CUSHION TIRE.

APPLICATION FILED PEB. 18, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

`UNITED STATES Patented January 19, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES COOMBER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF THREE-FOURTHS TO JOHN CALDWELL, HARRY E. WOOD, AND AARON O. GIFFORD, OF

NEW YORK, N. Y.

CUSHION-TIERE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. I749,845, dated January 19, 1904.

Application iiled February 18, 1903.V Serial No. 143,950. (No model.) i

Tires, of which the following is a full, clear,

and exact description.

The invention relates to vehicle-tires, and

lmore particularly to` that class known as cushion-tires.

The invention designs to provide an elastic tire of improved form and construction and which is of especial advantage in tires employed upon heavy vehicles and subjected to severe strains.

With these objects in view the invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter described,A illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly deiined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aview in crosssection of atire embodying vthe preferred form of the invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a wheel having the improved tire applied thereto, part of the rim being broken away. Fig. 3 is a view in horizontal section through 'the elastic strip and showing the improved vcrossstays and the retaining-bands. l

A denotes a wheel-rim comprising a felly co, usually formed of wood or similar material. A metallic band B fits around the periphery of the felly and forms a peripheral bearingsurface. A channel for an elastic strip or body O is formed between side plates or rings d, and the base of the` channel is formed by wedge rings or strips e and f, having straight inner peripheries fitting against the outer periphery of band B and their outer surfaces inclined, as at c and f', respectively,which form 40 a reversely and inwardly tapering seat,

against which the inclined portionsc c2 of the base of elastic strip or body are respectively /L are embedded in the elastic strip and extend substantially across the strip and form a crosssupport for the retaining band or bands. Each cross-support is formed of a strip of wire bent to form a staple having apair of integral arms h 71.2 in close proximity to each other and extends across the elastic strip and. forms a bearing or support for the retaining band or bands. The staples are preferably arranged alternately, (see Fig. 3,) so the connecting portions and free ends of adjacent staples will be arranged at one side of the elastic body.

It has heretofore been proposed to employ a cross-stay formed of wire extending transversely through the elastic strip. In practice it `has been found that constant compression and creeping of the elastic strip cause the Wire cross-stay to become loose in the rubber, so that the cross-stay will after having become loose wear that portion of the elastic strip between the retaining-band and the rim. A desideratum in 'cross-stays for retaining-bands is to Aprovide a form of cross-support which distributes the strain of the retaining-band throughout the entire width of the rubber and which does not interfere even in a slight degree with the elasticity of the .strip or body. For that reason cross-stays independent of each other and of the retaining-band and usually formed of wire have been deemed of advantage over constructions in which a strip of wire has been extended 'continuously back and forth across the elastic strip. The present invention provides a form of cross-stay which is formed of wire and which 4can be embedded in the Velastic strip and which is so formed that it is impossible for the cross-stay to be- `a wire staple having a pair of arms is secured against all danger of rolling or loosening, be-

cause there is a plurality of bearing portions or contacts between each stay and each retain- `ing-band which entirely overcome all tendency of the wire cross-stay to revolve or creep. Furthermore, that end of the crossstay at which the arms are connected together renders the cross-stay unusually rigid.

In practice the elastic strip is usually formed to lit rather snugly around the rim. When the tire is to be applied to the rim, the thin edges of the wedge strips or rings are first inserted between the outer edge of the inclined portions of the base of the elastic strip. Side plates (Z are then secured to the felly by bolts c', which extend through the felly and through both of the side rings oriianges. As the side rings are forced into position adjacent the side of the felly wedge-strips e and f will be forced inwardly thereby. The inward movement of the wedge-rings will force the base portion of the elastic strip outwardly and insure a snug fit of the elastic body within the rim, outward movement of the base portion of the tire being restricted by the cross-supports and the retaining-bands. The employment of wedges to insure a snugly-litting elastic body and rim is of unusual advantage in tires upon heavy vehicles and when employed in an elastic body having retaining-bands and cross-stays provides a tire which possesses longevity and in which all danger of displacement either by a vertical or lateral strain is entirely overcome.

The sides of the rim may be formed as a continuous ring or can be formed of sections. If desired, also the wedges e and f may be circular `strips bent to fit around the felly. The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the precise details described unless such are specifically defined in the claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, iss-- l. In a cushion-tire, the combination with a rim comprising side plates and a peripheral bearing-surface, of means for securing said sideplates in position to form a channel therebetween, an elastic body within said rim, and having its base inclined, and a wedge movable laterally into position between said bearingsnrface and said elastic body or strip, said wedge having an inclined surface fitting against the base of said strip or body and an inner straight surface engaging said bearingsurface.

2. Ina cushion-tire, the combination with a rim comprising side plates and a peripheral bearing-surface, of means for securing said side plates in position to forma channel therebetween, an elastic body within said rim having a base reversely inclined, and a pair of wedges, movable laterally into position between said bearing-surface and said elastic strip'or body, each .of said wedges having an inclined surface fitting against the base of said strip or body and an inner straight survface engaging said bearing-surface.

3. In a cushion-tire, the combination 'withra rim comprising side plates and a peripheral bearing-surface of means for securing said side plates in position to form a channel therebetween, an elastic body within said rim, and having its base inclined, a wedge movable laterally into position between said bearing-surface and said elastic strip or body, and a separate Wedge-strip shifted by oneof the said plates, said strip having an inclined surface {itting against the base of said body, and an inner straight surface, engaging said bearingsurface.

4. In a cushion-tire, the combination with an elastic body having a longitudinal retainingband, and a series of independent cross-stays supporting said band and extending across the elastic body, of a rim, having a channel therein, and a wedge-strip movable into and out of position between said rim and said body, and whereby the base portion of the elastic strip or vbody will be caused to t snugly within said rim under restriction of the retaining-bands and cross-supports.

5. In a cushion-tire, the combination with an elastic body having a longitudinal retaining-band and a seriesl of independent crossstays supporting said band, and extending across the elastic body, of a rim comprising a peripheral bearing-surface, side plates and wedge-strips movable laterally into and out of position between said body and said bearing-surface, each of said wedge-strips having an inclined surface fitting against the strip and a straight surface tting against said bearing-surface, and whereby said strip or body will be-held snugly within the rim-channel and whereby the base of the elastic body will be forced outwardly under restriction of the retaining-band and cross-stays.

6. In a cushion-tire, the combination with a rim having a channel therein, of an elastic strip or body, seated in said rim, a longitudinally-extending retaining-band, independent ofthe rim, and a plurality of independent cross-supports for the retaining-band, each of said supports being formed of a U-shaped strip extending transversely across, and embedded in the elastic body.

7 In a cushion-tire the combination witha rim having a channel therein of an elastic body seated in said rim, a longitudinal retaining-band extending longitudinally around said body and independent of said rim and a plurality of independent cross-supports, for said band and embedded in the elastic body, each of said supports being formed of a strip of metal having a pair of connected arms in close proximity to each other, and extending transversely across the elastic body and terminating within the elastic body.

8. In a cushion-tire, the combination with a rim comprising side plates and a peripheral bearing-surface, of an elastic strip within said IOO IIO

rim, alongitudinal retaining-band, a series of having an inclined surface engaging the base Wire staples independent of each other and independent of said retaining-band, said strip having its base formed with reversely-inclined Surfaces and a pair of Wedge-rings fitting loetween said strip and said bearing-surface and movable laterally into and out of position and of the elastic strip or body and a straight surface engaging said bearing-surface.

JAMES COOMBER. In presence 0f- ELLIOTT L. PERKINS, JOHN CALDWELL. 

